General Index 

Marlborough Housing Market Statistics Overview

Marlborough has see things slow down a bit. Inventory is down, but not as drastically as we've seen in some other towns. Things are still selling pretty solid, but not as aggressively as we've seen in the last report. The result is a neutral market, favoring neither buyers or sellers. I'd be inclined to say that the buyers look to have gained some leverage, but the average days for solds is pretty steady in the 130's and for that to be true I'd expect it to be more in the 150's or more. The good stuff is still going fast.

The bank owned and short-sale properties continue to clog up the market with 21 - over 20 percent. And it doesn't seem to be going down. This ultimately restricts the inventory for a good percentage of buyers - and may give sellers additional leverage going forward.

Marlborough Housing Market Statistics - Raw MLS Data

• There are 105 homes (vs. 120 in the last Marlborough Home Sales Report) listed as For Sale.
• There have been 111 houses sold (vs. 140) in the last 6 months, and 48 homes sold (vs 70) in the last 3 months.
• There was an Average Market Time of 136 days for just SOLD homes.
• There is an Average Market Time of 222 days of the homes For Sale.
• The Dollars paid per Square Foot in Marlborough is $154
• There was an Average Sold Price of $290,085 for sold homes.
• Marlborough has 6 properties (vs. 4) advertised as lender owned/foreclosure (typically foreclosure) .
• Marlborough has 15 properties (vs. 17) advertised as short sales required by lender .
• Marlborough “Hot Seller Index” (HSI): 72 Last Report: 79

*All statistics are for Single Family Houses and based on data in MLS.

Read my Explanation for Massachusetts Home Data Reports.

Our Most Accessed Posts

• How do I get the seller to pay my closing costs, and is it free money?
• What do I need to know about Radon as a Home Buyer?
• Will Solar Panels add Value to my Home and build Equity?
• Is it a bad idea to buy a house near power lines? Is it safe to buy a house near high tension powerlines?
• How do I buy a home if it has a failed septic?
• Investors can make money on foreclosures - can you?
• Should I buy a home with electric heat? How much will my heating bill be with electric heat?

About Matt Heisler

Matt Heisler is a real-estate professional and owner of this website. He has been selling homes in MA for buyers and sellers for over 20 years. He is an expert in foreclosure purchases, short-sale purchases, short-sale sales, buy and hold investing, fix and flip investing, and of course traditional residential home sales. He is happy to take questions as they pertain to real estate on Title V, Radon, Termites, Sump Pumps, Roofs, Foundations, Wells, Septic Systems, Cash-Flow, Staging, and a host of other housing issues. As a Vanderbilt University alumnus, he is proud to serve his local community.

Do Good Things Today! Matt Heisler

*All information is posted in good faith and is assumed to be reliable, but may rely on third party information sources.

Since it so close to the big game,

GO PATS!

I know that I'm supposed to be writing about the Sox in this space, but it's the SUPER BOWL dude, so I will digress for a moment to give my (basically pointless) opinions about the Pats.

The Giants Will:

1) Run the ball effectively.  I think they will try to get the Pats to commit more players "in the box" by running the ball.  I expect them to pile up big yards if they hand it off.

2) Have some big plays.  Cruz can't be contained.  The Giants can and will make plays.

3) Dare the Patriots to go deep.  I expect the line of scrimmage and the first 10 yards of the field to be covered in Giants.  The Pats won't have time to go deep, and they don't have to rush six to get to the quarterback, so there's going to be lots of guys clogging up the middle.  A high safety is all I'd expect to see in the majority of coverages.  Brady is going to have to avoid tipped balls, and be right on target.

The Patriots Will:

1) Drop 7 guys back in coverage most of the game, be patient, and try to get Eli to throw 1-2 picks, in exactly the same way they did against Peyton Manning in big games.  They don't have the horses to go man-to-man, and there's no point in blitzing Manning, he plays just as well (Just ask San Fran).  So the Pats need to have their front four play like champs against the run and the pass.

2) Not need Gronkowski to move the ball.  Despite recent reports to the contrary, I expect the Gronk to be a non-factor in the passing game.  I hope he can be a useful distraction and effective blocker.  Unlike 2007, the Pats should be able to neutralize the blitz better, and I expect them to, with short routes, and a better run game.

3) Win!  This game is a chess match and even on paper.  I agree with most, that I like the most of the match ups in the Giants favor.  I think the "intangibles" are all Patriots.  So I think the Giants will make more mistakes than the Pats, and the Pats finish with more points.  34-27 Patriots.

All right, enough of that.

Sox and Yankee Bullpens

Part 1 of this article can be read here, at Red Sox Yankees 40 Man Roster.

Andrew Bailey   vs. Mariano Rivera (closer)

Yeah, I know. It's not even close.  Or is it?  Rivera was born in 1969.  1969!!!!!!  That makes him older than the next oldest Yankee (Jeter) by FIVE YEARS. He can't keep pitching forever, and I say that every year, but he can't.  No less a Yankee scribe than Mike Lupica said he wouldn't be surprised if Rivera was not the Yankees closer at the end of the 2012 season.  His effectiveness against lefties was noticeably down last year.  Bailey is a quality arm and will certainly be a solid figure at the back.  Is he the next great closer?  I doubt it, but I think that position is a bit over rated anyway.  I look forward to seeing what he's got.  Edge: Yankees.

Mark Melancon  vs. David Robinson (set-up)

Robinson had a monster year last year.  Melancon is coming from the NL. He's young and got good stuff, but Robinson has been here and done that.  'Nuff said here: Edge: Yankees.

Jenks vs. Soriano

I think this is where the bullpens will get interesting for both teams.  Soriano missed some time but showed promising flashes of deserving the back end.  Jenks missed the whole season and pitched poorly, but if the Sox get an average year out of him, it could boost what they can do at the end of games.  Edge: Sox.

Matt Albers vs.    Joba Chamberlain

Albers had a very good year last year - Joba? Not so much.  He pitched effectively, but at a great cost, his elbow, and is unlikely to be ready for the start of 2012.  Joba's clearly got more talent, but if he doesn't get start to develop more consistency, middle of the order reliever is all he'll get from the Yankees.  Albers probably takes a step back, but he's not being asked to do as much this year, so I think he'll be fine.  Edge: Sox.

Overall Bullpen Edge:  The Yanks have proven guys at the back end, and depth to handle a Rivera injury on ineffectiveness stretch.  The Sox have new guys who will have to adjust to some crazy pressure - and tough lineups.  Edge Yanks.

It's close, but you have to like the Yankees this year to win the division.  Injuries, of course, will play a huge role going forward, but since its the Sox who have trouble staying healthy, that should also favor the bombers.  Pitchers and Catchers report next week, look for updates as the Sox fill out the bench.

Do Good Things Today!

Matt Heisler

Hudson Housing Market Statistics Overview

Hudson's not a big town, but 48 houses for sale is just too few. Like we've seen in almost all the towns, the number of homes has moved sharply lower since November, and hasn't yet rebounded. Instead of pushing prices higher, though, we're seeing transaction activity slow down. It's not as dramatic here as what we've seen in Natick and Hopkinton, but it's definitely the key trend of this quarter. Will the sellers come back in bigger numbers? Will buyers swell as well? We will see. Sellers should look at getting their home to market now, with the market tight. Buyers should be aware that it's likely - but not a given - that there's more inventory coming - but it may come on at higher prices.

Short-sales and foreclosures have dropped back down to four homes - about 8% of the market. It's a big percentage, but not enough to cause wide scale impacts, and not noticeably different than last year.

Hudson Housing Market Statistics - Raw MLS Data

• There are 48 homes (vs 61 in the last Hudson Real Estate Report) listed as For Sale.
• There have been 64 houses sold (vs. 78) in the last 6 months, and 35 homes sold (vs. 44) in the last 3 months.
• There was an Average Market Time of 138 days for just SOLD homes.
• There is an Average Market Time of 178 days of the homes For Sale.
• The Dollars paid per Square Foot in Hudson is $151
• There was an Average Sold Price of $285,264 for sold homes.
• Hudson has 1 properties (vs. 2) advertised as lender owned/foreclosure (typically foreclosure) .
• Hudson has 3 properties (vs. 4) advertised as short sales required by lender .
• Hudson “Hot Seller Index” (HSI): 85 Last Report: 89

*All statistics are for Single Family Houses and based on data in MLS.

Read my Explanation for Massachusetts Home Data Reports.

Our Most Accessed Posts

• How do I get the seller to pay my closing costs, and is it free money?
• What do I need to know about Radon as a Home Buyer?
• Will Solar Panels add Value to my Home and build Equity?
• Is it a bad idea to buy a house near power lines? Is it safe to buy a house near high tension powerlines?
• How do I buy a home if it has a failed septic?
• Investors can make money on foreclosures - can you?
• Should I buy a home with electric heat? How much will my heating bill be with electric heat?

About Matt Heisler

Matt Heisler is a real-estate professional and owner of this website. He has been selling homes in MA for buyers and sellers for over 20 years. He is an expert in foreclosure purchases, short-sale purchases, short-sale sales, buy and hold investing, fix and flip investing, and of course traditional residential home sales. He is happy to take questions as they pertain to real estate on Title V, Radon, Termites, Sump Pumps, Roofs, Foundations, Wells, Septic Systems, Cash-Flow, Staging, and a host of other housing issues. As a Vanderbilt University alumnus, he is proud to serve his local community.

Do Good Things Today! Matt Heisler

*All information is posted in good faith and is assumed to be reliable, but may rely on third party information sources.

Hopkinton Housing Market Statistics Overview

Well this report looks familiar. Almost all the statistics are slightly negative, but it's driven by the over-riding lack of inventory. Here's last year's March Real Estate overview on Hopkinton. Lots of similar numbers here, but last February, we were all under four feet of snow - not a lot of buying activity. But looking at all the numbers, this year is still a lot tighter than last year - when it should be softer (weather has been better, should be more sellers). Sales are higher, 90 vs. 70. Sales times are shorter, 107 days vs. 132 days. And a big jump from an average sold price of just under 500K to $575K. That likely means that Hopkinton is headed for a very productive sellers market in the spring, and with an HSI of 101, above a hundred for the second report in a row, you can bet that there's plenty of buyers looking for a place in Hopkinton.

Sellers should be reaching in Hopkinton, and should be listing now, while inventory is scarce. Market can't hardly get much better than now, and there's no competition. Buyers should get educated and be aggressive.  With this much demand, the best houses will be attracting offers quickly.

Nothing to report on the foreclosure and short-sale front. Those homes seem to be gone in Hopkinton.

Hopkinton Housing Market Statistics - Raw MLS Data

• There are 52 homes (vs. 89 in the last Hopkinton Real Estate Sales Report) listed as For Sale.
• There have been 90 houses sold (vs. 115) in the last 6 months, and 52 homes sold (vs. 56) in the last 3 months.
• There was an Average Market Time of 107 days (vs. 93) for just SOLD homes.
• There is an Average Market Time of 213 days of the homes For Sale.
• The Dollars paid per Square Foot in Hopkinton is $182 
• There was an Average Sold Price of $576,194 for sold homes.
• Hopkinton has 2 properties (vs. 1) advertised as lender owned/foreclosure (typically foreclosure) .
• Hopkinton has 1 properties (vs. 1) advertised as short sales required by lender .
• Hopkinton “Hot Seller Index”: 101 Last Report:108

*All statistics are for Single Family Houses and based on data in MLS.

Read my Explanation for Massachusetts Home Data Reports.

Our Most Accessed Posts

• How do I get the seller to pay my closing costs, and is it free money?
• What do I need to know about Radon as a Home Buyer?
• Will Solar Panels add Value to my Home and build Equity?
• Is it a bad idea to buy a house near power lines? Is it safe to buy a house near high tension powerlines?
• How do I buy a home if it has a failed septic?
• Investors can make money on foreclosures - can you?
• Should I buy a home with electric heat? How much will my heating bill be with electric heat?

About Matt Heisler

Matt Heisler is a real-estate professional and owner of this website. He has been selling homes in MA for buyers and sellers for over 20 years. He is an expert in foreclosure purchases, short-sale purchases, short-sale sales, buy and hold investing, fix and flip investing, and of course traditional residential home sales. He is happy to take questions as they pertain to real estate on Title V, Radon, Termites, Sump Pumps, Roofs, Foundations, Wells, Septic Systems, Cash-Flow, Staging, and a host of other housing issues. As a Vanderbilt University alumnus, he is proud to serve his local community.

Do Good Things Today! Matt Heisler

*All information is posted in good faith and is assumed to be reliable, but may rely on third party information sources.

Holliston Housing Market Statistics Overview

Holliston continues to moderate a bit. Looking at the raw numbers, it looks like the wind is going out of the sails for Holliston sellers. Market time is up and sales are down. But it's not that simple, with the number of homes for sale at historical lows (44), the transaction volume is bound to decrease - there's simply not enough available. The market time being up indicates the properties left are probably more troubled - condition or location issues - or just overpriced, and buyers are holding off.

No Shadow inventory here. Short-sales are down from 4-2, and foreclosures have stayed the same, just one on the market.

Holliston Housing Market Statistics - Raw MLS Data

• There are 44 homes listed (vs. 59 in the last Holliston Real Estate Report) as For Sale.
• There have been 59 houses sold (vs. 88) in the last 6 months, and 29 homes sold (vs. 33) in the last 3 months.
• There was an Average Market Time of 168 days (vs. 114) for just SOLD homes.
• There is an Average Market Time of 163 days of the homes For Sale.
• The Dollars paid per Square Foot in Holliston is $178
• There was an Average Sold Price of $408,002 for sold homes.
• Holliston has 1 properties advertised as lender owned (typically foreclosure) .
• Holliston has 2 properties advertised as short sales required by lender .
• Holliston “Hot Seller Index”: 82 Last Report: 84

*All statistics are for Single Family Houses and based on data in MLS.

Read my Explanation for Massachusetts Home Data Reports.

Our Most Accessed Posts

• How do I get the seller to pay my closing costs, and is it free money?
• What do I need to know about Radon as a Home Buyer?
• Will Solar Panels add Value to my Home and build Equity?
• Is it a bad idea to buy a house near power lines? Is it safe to buy a house near high tension powerlines?
• How do I buy a home if it has a failed septic?
• Investors can make money on foreclosures - can you?
• Should I buy a home with electric heat? How much will my heating bill be with electric heat?

About Matt Heisler

Matt Heisler is a real-estate professional and owner of this website. He has been selling homes in MA for buyers and sellers for over 20 years. He is an expert in foreclosure purchases, short-sale purchases, short-sale sales, buy and hold investing, fix and flip investing, and of course traditional residential home sales. He is happy to take questions as they pertain to real estate on Title V, Radon, Termites, Sump Pumps, Roofs, Foundations, Wells, Septic Systems, Cash-Flow, Staging, and a host of other housing issues. As a Vanderbilt University alumnus, he is proud to serve his local community.

Do Good Things Today! Matt Heisler

*All information is posted in good faith and is assumed to be reliable, but may rely on third party information sources.

Grafton Housing Market Statistics Overview

Grafton looks to me like it's taking a breather. Buyers' purchase activity has decreased, and the average market time of Active properties for Sale kinda jumps out. At almost twice the wait for the properties that sold, the properties that are still on the market have problems, for the most part, that buyers aren't willing to take on, or sellers aren't willing to fix. That means there's quite a few stubborn sellers, and that will keep the number of properties for sale up there.

There have definitely been some nice properties in Grafton though, and it has a good prices. Buyers will still find value in Grafton, but it looks to me like the best stuff is already gone. If the sellers come back strong this spring, it will remain a buyer haven, but if the people don't come to market in typical numbers, we could see some push by the buyers to make this market a little easier for sellers. Sellers: Buyers are being picky, so make sure your house stands out to the competition. Good pictures, a strong internet presence, (to get them in the door), and a home that is staged and shows well is your ticket to getting your best price in Grafton.

Grafton Housing Market Statistics - Raw MLS Data

• There are 98 homes listed as For Sale (vs. 127 in the last Grafton Real Estate Report.
• There have been 86 houses sold (vs. 102) in the last 6 months, and 40 homes sold (vs. 53) in the last 3 months.
• There was an Average Market Time of 126 days for just SOLD homes.
• There is an Average Market Time of 218 days of the homes For Sale.
• The Dollars paid per Square Foot in Grafton is $157
• There was an Average Sold Price of $370,630 for sold homes.
• Grafton has 3 properties advertised as lender owned (typically foreclosure) .
• Grafton has 6 properties advertised as short sales required by lender .
• Grafton “Hot Seller Index”: 69 (Favors Buyers) Last Report: 69

*All statistics are for Single Family Houses and based on data in MLS.

Our Most Accessed Posts

• How do I get the seller to pay my closing costs, and is it free money?
• What do I need to know about Radon as a Home Buyer?
• Will Solar Panels add Value to my Home and build Equity?
• Is it a bad idea to buy a house near power lines? Is it safe to buy a house near high tension powerlines?
• How do I buy a home if it has a failed septic?
• Investors can make money on foreclosures - can you?
• Should I buy a home with electric heat? How much will my heating bill be with electric heat?

About Matt Heisler

Matt Heisler is a real-estate professional and owner of this website. He has been selling homes in MA for buyers and sellers for over 20 years. He is an expert in foreclosure purchases, short-sale purchases, short-sale sales, buy and hold investing, fix and flip investing, and of course traditional residential home sales. He is happy to take questions as they pertain to real estate on Title V, Radon, Termites, Sump Pumps, Roofs, Foundations, Wells, Septic Systems, Cash-Flow, Staging, and a host of other housing issues. As a Vanderbilt University alumnus, he is proud to serve his local community.

Do Good Things Today! Matt Heisler

*All information is posted in good faith and is assumed to be reliable, but may rely on third party information sources.

Framingham, MA Housing Market Statistics Overview

Well we had a chance to talk about Framingham in the last month or so, as my trip to the town hall showed a lot of people upset over the recent assessments. I'm afraid that this post will not bring much relief to Framingham residents.

As we can see, the HSI (Hot Seller Index) is at 100 for Framingham. This indicates a seller's market, where they can generally sell quickly at market price, and the more desirable homes should be able to find buyers by "reaching" a bit above market. If you're thinking of selling, and the real estate agent you interview tells you how bad the market is in Framingham, GET ANOTHER ONE. It's been good for sellers for over a year. Now that DOESN'T Mean you can get 2005 prices folks, those are gone for a while (think years), but you can get buyers and offers for all but the most distressed homes right now in Framingham.

Looking at the details of the data, we see that almost all the main metrics are actually worse than they were in October. Sales are down over 3 and six months, market time is up for solds and actives. But the Index is up, so how is that? Well the most important metric, Demand vs. Supply, also known as six months sales vs. actives, is completely lopsided, with sales far out pacing sellers. This is the same trend that we see in Natick, Ashland, and for the most part, Hopkinton. There are simply more buyers than sellers. There were more than 30 properties out of the 240 (about 12%) that sold at or above listing price. Buyers aren't going crazy - they're content, for the most part, to wait for the "next" one, but that type of patience won't continue if the number of homes for sale doesn't pick up significantly in the near term.  Buyers should be aggressive when finding nice homes in neighborhoods.  They'll be gone quick.

No change in the short-sale foreclosure pictures, just note that there's a lot of short-sales in Framingham (over 15% of the inventory), so you'll need flexibility to purchase these homes.

Framingham, MA Housing Market Statistics - Raw MLS Data

• There are 143 homes (vs. 207 in the last Framingham Real Estate Report) listed as For Sale.
• There have been 242 houses sold (vs. 274) in the last 6 months, and 123 homes (vs. 151) sold in the last 3 months.
• There was an Average Market Time of 100 days (vs. 86) for just SOLD homes.
• There is an Average Market Time of 171 days (vs. 146) of the homes For Sale.
• The Dollars paid per Square Foot in Framingham, MA is $177
• There was an Average Sold Price of $327,837 for sold homes.
• Framingham, MA has 5 properties (vs. 5) advertised as lender owned (typically foreclosure) .
• Framingham, MA has 21 properties (vs 21) advertised as short sales required by lender .
• Framingham, MA “Hot Seller Index”: 100 Last Report: 96

*All statistics are for Single Family Houses and based on data in MLS.

Read my Explanation for Massachusetts Home Data Reports.

Our Most Accessed Posts

• How do I get the seller to pay my closing costs, and is it free money?
• What do I need to know about Radon as a Home Buyer?
• Will Solar Panels add Value to my Home and build Equity?
• Is it a bad idea to buy a house near power lines? Is it safe to buy a house near high tension powerlines?
• How do I buy a home if it has a failed septic?
• Investors can make money on foreclosures - can you?
• What should I do if I have high levels of Arsenic in my Private Well?

About Matt Heisler

Matt Heisler is a real-estate professional and owner of this website. He has been selling homes in MA for buyers and sellers for over 20 years. He is an expert in foreclosure purchases, short-sale purchases, short-sale sales, buy and hold investing, fix and flip investing, and of course traditional residential home sales. He is happy to take questions as they pertain to real estate on Title V, Radon, Termites, Sump Pumps, Roofs, Foundations, Wells, Septic Systems, Cash-Flow, Staging, and a host of other housing issues. As a Vanderbilt University alumnus, he is proud to serve his local community.

Do Good Things Today! Matt Heisler

*All information is posted in good faith and is assumed to be reliable, but may rely on third party information sources.

Charlton Housing Market Statistics Overview

Charlton has been good to buyers. Many properties are affordable, with just $118/ sq foot being the town average. Despite these lower prices, homes for sale have been moving slowly. This has given buyers both time and leverage, and that gives sellers headaches when selling their property. Sellers need to be making their properties show well and be priced right to move in Charlton, but there is some evidence that things are picking up.

Sales have been pretty steady, and there's a good number of pendings on the board, which should continue that trend. Normally, we'd see inventory pile up in the last quarter, but not in Charlton. The number of homes for sale is down sharply, and purchases are continuing. Could Charlton see a return to the 70 or 80's in the HSI? Only time will tell. For right now though, Charlton remains a buyers market.

On a final note, bank impacted properties (foreclosures and short-sales) are up over last year, which is starting to emerge as a trend across the towns. Foreclosures are down, but short-sales are up. In any case, 14 properties that are in lender control out of just 48 is a huge number. Fortunately, 5 of these are in pending already, so hopefully they will move off the market and improve this part of it. These properties can add value for buyers, but they come with risk too, and in either case, the absorption rate of these homes tends to be slower than seller controlled homes for sale.

Charlton Housing Market Statistics - Raw MLS Data

• There are 63 homes listed as For Sale (vs. 76 in the last Charlton Real Estate Report).

• There have been 48 houses sold (vs. 47) in the last 6 months, and 25 homes sold (vs. 29) in the last 3 months.
• There was an Average Market Time of 136 days for just SOLD homes.
• There is an Average Market Time of 170 days (vs. 185) of the homes For Sale.
• The Dollars paid per Square Foot in Charlton is $118
• There was an Average Sold Price of $239,805 for sold homes.
• Charlton has 5 properties (vs. 6) advertised as lender owned (typically foreclosure) .
• Charlton has 9 properties (vs. 7) advertised as short sales required by lender .
• Charlton “Hot Seller Index”: 69 Last Report: 67

*All statistics are for Single Family Houses and based on data in MLS.

Read my Explanation for Massachusetts Home Data Reports.

Our Most Accessed Posts

• How do I get the seller to pay my closing costs, and is it free money?
• What do I need to know about Radon as a Home Buyer?
• Will Solar Panels add Value to my Home and build Equity?
• Is it a bad idea to buy a house near power lines? Is it safe to buy a house near high tension powerlines?
• How do I buy a home if it has a failed septic?
• Investors can make money on foreclosures - can you?
• What should I do if I have high levels of Arsenic in my Private Well?

About Matt Heisler

Matt Heisler is a real-estate professional and owner of this website. He has been selling homes in MA for buyers and sellers for over 20 years. He is an expert in foreclosure purchases, short-sale purchases, short-sale sales, buy and hold investing, fix and flip investing, and of course traditional residential home sales. He is happy to take questions as they pertain to real estate on Title V, Radon, Termites, Sump Pumps, Roofs, Foundations, Wells, Septic Systems, Cash-Flow, Staging, and a host of other housing issues. As a Vanderbilt University alumnus, he is proud to serve his local community.

Do Good Things Today! Matt Heisler

*All information is posted in good faith and is assumed to be reliable, but may rely on third party information sources.

In this post, we're going to talk about heating your home with Steam Heat.

In Massachusetts, Steam Heat, which was the first and original heat "system", still can be found in many homes that were built before the widespread acceptance of forced hot air and forced hot water. As it's name implies, it uses Steam, not simply "hot" water. Conceptually, it's very similar to forced hot water.

How does Steam Heat Work?

The boiler heats the water until it boils and then the steam rises through the pipes that are connected to the radiators. The hot water vapor fills the radiators, which heats the metal that the radiators are comprised of, and then the metal heats the air in between the gaps of the radiator fins. Voila! Heat. The cycle is completed when the steam cools and precipitates back to water. The water returns back down the pipes where it is reheated to steam once again.

Advantages/Disadvantages of Steam Heat Systems

There aren't any real advantages for steam heat, which is why it is not installed today. They are high maintenance, both the burners and the radiators require more care and have parts that can wear out. As it operates at higher temperatures, it's not as safe as the more modern systems. (Most steam heat is not unsafe either, but the radiators can heat to temperatures that will be painful, if not damaging). It's also a system that has difficulty heating "Evenly" throughout the home, and can be difficult to adjust. Naturally of course, it is also incompatible with air conditioning. Despite the disadvantages, many homeowners haven't removed their steam heat as it still is quite capable of keeping your home warm, and isn't so efficient that it warrants immediate replacement.

If A home has Steam Heat does it use oil? Probably, but it's not a given. Steam Heat systems can use gas burners/boilers as well. The delivery system, pipes that carry steam, is really separate from the heating elements of the system.  

Do Good Things Today!

Matt Heisler

Clinton Housing Market Statistics Overview

We see some typical patterns in Clinton. Homes for sale are down sharply, about 20%, but that will rebound some as we go through the month. Sales stayed solid through the last three months, actually gaining on the late summer sales, which is pretty impressive. The market is very balanced, which is a good showing for Clinton, as last year wasn't the best one for Clinton home sellers. It certainly looks like buyers, as they usually do, finally caught up to the values in Clinton and made good purchases as the inventory got much tighter to the East and South.

Bank impacted homes are up, affecting an already tight market. With 11 homes (7 foreclosures and 4 short-sales) out of just 55 homes for sale being affected by lenders, that really limits the market for regular home sellers who should benefit by increased demand.  The average foreclosure is just $150,000, 100K below the average town sale price, but these homes are likely in need of immediate work and aren't for everyone.

Clinton Housing Market Statistics - Raw MLS Data

• There are 53 homes listed as For Sale (vs. 66 in the last Clinton Home Sales Report).
• There have been 56 houses sold in the last 6 months, and 33 homes sold (vs. 29) in the last 3 months.
• There was an Average Market Time of 120 days for just SOLD homes. 
• There is an Average Market Time of 155 days of the homes For Sale.
• The Dollars paid per Square Foot in Clinton is $120
• There was an Average Sold Price of $226,688 for sold homes.
• Clinton has 7 properties (vs. 6) advertised as lender owned (typically foreclosure) .
• Clinton has 4 properties (vs. 3) advertised as short sales required by lender .
• Clinton “Hot Seller Index” (HSI): 82 Last Report: 74

*All statistics are for Single Family Houses and based on data in MLS.

Read my Explanation for Massachusetts Home Data Reports.

Our Most Accessed Posts

• How do I get the seller to pay my closing costs, and is it free money?
• What do I need to know about Radon as a Home Buyer?
• Will Solar Panels add Value to my Home and build Equity?
• Is it a bad idea to buy a house near power lines? Is it safe to buy a house near high tension powerlines?
• How do I buy a home if it has a failed septic?
• Investors can make money on foreclosures - can you?
• What should I do if I have high levels of Arsenic in my Private Well?

About Matt Heisler

Matt Heisler is a real-estate professional and owner of this website. He has been selling homes in MA for buyers and sellers for over 20 years. He is an expert in foreclosure purchases, short-sale purchases, short-sale sales, buy and hold investing, fix and flip investing, and of course traditional residential home sales. He is happy to take questions as they pertain to real estate on Title V, Radon, Termites, Sump Pumps, Roofs, Foundations, Wells, Septic Systems, Cash-Flow, Staging, and a host of other housing issues. As a Vanderbilt University alumnus, he is proud to serve his local community.

Do Good Things Today! Matt Heisler

*All information is posted in good faith and is assumed to be reliable, but may rely on third party information sources.